specific gravity test???

[nm reef]

LFS is going out of business......big discounts......picked up lots of stuff cheap
since starting my tank in January I've used an aquarium systems seatest full range specific gravity meter.....yesterday as usual on Sunday I tested my tanks with the following results
water change water-1.023
55 reef-1.024
55 fowlr/dsb-1.022
29 gal damsel retirement center-1.022
thought my level of maintenance was getting good..........got me some good stable water chemistry goin.......all looks good
well I got a new meter(same as the old) but new
being curious I used new meter to check water change water
1.030+
YIKES......
checked all tanks with following
55 reef-old 1.024...new 1.030
55 fowlr/dsb-old 1.022...new 1.026
29 gal-old 1.022...new 1.025
water change water...old 1.023...new 1.030 +
please advise
clean the old meter about once a month with vinager & water...always rinse well after use.....do these things differ that much from one to the other
may need to start using a different tester to be more accurate
also....advise on critical or not need to reduce any of these readings
all tank critters are fine and do not seem stressed

 

[fishfreek]

WOW I'll have to clean my hydrometer! I've had it about a year and cleaned it only twice. I'm going to test than clean it and try it again and see what happens. I'll bet i see about the same results as you did. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[kodi]

Those mechanical meters are not very accurate in there measurements. They however do work well. Its recommended that if you are going to use one, have it calibrated using a refractometer. Most of the good lfs should have one. If theirs shows 1.023 and yours shows 1.030 remark your 1.030 as 1.023 and you will be alot closer to reality. Keep it clean and recheck it at least once a year.

 

[i3luedragon]

How much is a refractometer? And what company makes good ones?

 

[pufferlover]

For the few bucks the swing types cost I replace mine every year with new ones (I keep 2 at all times and check them against each other). From what my lfs owner told me he recently bought a refractometer and when he checked all his swing gauges he uses the most any were off was 2 points low (ex. 1020 was really 1022). Most were dead on which surprised me because his look so cruddy and lay arounf everywhere. I always take one of mine and check his salinity before I bring a new fish home then his salinity has been agreed to by my gauge not his or his thought of where he is.

 

[kodi]

A good refractometer is going to run you $150 to $200. There are several web stores that carry them.
I agree with Pufferlover, its a good idea to keep several of the swing-arm style testers around, and to test them against the LFS.
Keep in mind that temp also affects salinity when comparing.

 

[nm reef]

Spoke to my lfs(110 miles away) this afternoon....taking a sample of my water and both meters to get a calibration........scary not knowing which is accurate....so I'll hold off on water change until I get a grip on the situation.....did re-check all water this afternoon....new meter shows approximately .004 higher than the old one......reef 1.023(old)...1.027(new)